BOULDER, Colo. - No. 24 Stanford fell to Colorado on Friday, 17-16 despite a late surge in the fourth quarter from the Cardinal. Stanford moves to 5-5 and 3-1 in Pac-12 games while the Buffaloes improve to 7-2 and 2-2 in conference games.
Stanford started the game neck and neck with Colorado, trading blows throughout the first period. After the opening 15 minutes, it was four goals a piece.
The Stanford offense distributed the ball well as nine different players recorded a goal in the game. Ali Baiocco led all scorers in goals with five, her third game with that many goals this season. All of the fifth-year attacker's goals came in the second half.
Colorado strung together a strong second period to take the lead, rattling off four unanswered goals to begin the quarter. Sarah Jaques and Galen Lew responded for the Cardinal with a goal each in the period, but the hosts added two more before the halftime break.
The third quarter was much like the first, with Colorado tallying five goals to Stanford's four. Jaques and Lew each scored another, this goal being Lew's third of the match. Ali Baiocco added her first two goals of the game to bring the Cardinal's quarter total to four.
In the final quarter, Stanford made an impressive run to bring the game back within reach. Following a Buffalo opening goal in the period, Stanford tallied four straight to make it a one goal game.
Ashley Humphrey assisted Baiocco on two of her three strikes in the final period, but it wasn't enough to equalize against the Buffaloes.
Humphrey led the Cardinal in both points and assists, tallying six and four respectively. The super sophomore added a pair of goals to bring her season totals to 16 goals and 46 assists.
The two teams were nearly matched in most categories, but Colorado held a significant advantage in free position shots with seven to Stanford's three. Colorado recorded five goals from the seven shots.
Stanford will wrap up the road trip on Sunday in Eugene against Oregon.